"Based on our testing, our Professional Series 1D-optimized card is the fastest of all leading brands of CompactFlash and photographers will definitely experience a difference," said Eric Stang, president and CEO, Lexar Media. "We are able to achieve this remarkable performance by fine-tuning the firmware that resides on our patented controller to more optimally manage the data flow and interaction between the 1D and Lexar Media's CompactFlash."Source:
Lexar Media

FREMONT, Calif., February 21, 2002 -- Lexar Media Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading designer, developer and marketer of award-winning high-performance digital media and reader products, announces the availability of upgraded firmware for 16X-speed Professional Series CompactFlash cards to maximize image write speed when used with the Canon EOS-1D digital camera. Cards upgraded with 1D-optimized firmware, achieve a minimum sustained write speed of more than 15 percent faster than standard 16X Professional Series cards in the EOS-1D's High-Speed Continuous mode.

"Based on our testing, our Professional Series 1D-optimized card is the fastest of all leading brands of CompactFlash and photographers will definitely experience a difference," said Eric Stang, president and CEO, Lexar Media. "We are able to achieve this remarkable performance by fine-tuning the firmware that resides on our patented controller to more optimally manage the data flow and interaction between the 1D and Lexar Media's CompactFlash."

Using the EOS-1D in High-Speed Continuous mode and Lexar Media's specialized test equipment for the most accurate in-camera speed measurement, a generated 4.75MB image file is written to an optimized memory card in 1.79 seconds. This represents a 15 percent increase in speed performance over a standard 16X Professional Series card. Similar improvements were achieved in other modes with varying file sizes.

"The new EOS-1D is designed primarily for photojournalists and sport photographers who depend on its high-speed image capture with a continuous shooting speed of eight frames per second for up to 21 consecutive frames at full resolution," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, vice-president and general manager, Photographic Products Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Lexar Media has aggressively worked to optimize its CompactFlash to achieve higher levels of compatibility between the memory card and our Canon EOS-1D camera."

Lexar Media Professional Series 16X-speed digital film with optimized firmware will be demonstrated at the Photo Marketing Association International Conference and Trade Show (PMA) in Orlando, Florida, February 24 - 27, booth 1241. The Company is offering free firmware upgrades at the show and through Lexar Media technical support. Customers may contact Lexar Media at (510) 413-1275 for more information on how to receive the free upgrade.

About Lexar Media, Inc.

Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR) is a leading designer, marketer and licensor of award-winning removable flash-based digital storage media, card readers and ATA controller solutions for the digital photography, consumer electronics, industrial and communications markets. Lexar Media brands digital memory cards in the industry's most popular formats including CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard and SD. A digital storage innovator, Lexar Media was the first to develop and advance proprietary read-write speed standards for its USB-enabled CompactFlash cards and holds over 35 memory and controller patents. Licensees of Lexar Media's technology include Olympus, SanDisk, Samsung Electronics and Sony. Headquartered in Fremont, California, Lexar Media also has offices in London and Tokyo. Lexar Media is a member of the Russell 2000 Index. For more information, please call 1-800-789-9418 or visit www.digitalfilm.com.